All grant proposals are to be submitted online through the Gilead Grant portal tagging Gilead Asia Pacific Rainbow Grant Program, and specifying which focus area the proposal falls under. The Grants Committee will review and award grants based on how closely the proposed project aligns with the company’s mission and grant focus areas. Notifications of funding decisions will be done through the Gilead Grant portal. 

Our focus area

Under the overarching theme of “Reducing Stigma & Improving Equity”, there are three focus areas of projects that we hope to support in 2023. 

Focus 1: Addressing HIV-related social determinants of health that impact at-risk populations

Stigma drives discrimination and inequity across sectors of society, including in health care, education, workplace, and justice systems, as well as within families and communities. By deepening our understanding and approaches to addressing intersectional socio-structural factors that impact HIV-related stigma and inequity, we can better understand and attend to the many dimensions, such as strengthening communities, peer-to-peer education and capacity building, harm reduction and HIV prevention, that may contribute to or help ameliorate the impact of HIV stigma on PLHIV and individuals at-risk to greatly improve the health and well-being of the population facing HIV-related stigma. 

Focus 2: Integrating mental wellness in HIV care & stigma

Stigma is a social phenomenon known to have a negative impact on the lives of PLHIV, so much so that HIV has been characterized as a traumatic experience for PLHIV. Many experience stigma which can cause negative mental health disorders and experiences, including emotional distress, shame, depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation. The anticipation of prejudice and discrimination creates social anxiety in PLHIV, in turn aggravating negative beliefs, views and feelings of oneself as it relates to an individual's HIV-positive status. A people-centered approach to integrating mental wellness into HIV care can alleviate internalized stigma and enhance coping strategies, improving compliance and adherence to treatment for PLHIV.

Focus 3:  Uplifting populations “being left behind”

People who are at risk of contracting HIV comprises a highly diverse and heterogeneous community. This risk may propagate to general populations via so-called bridging groups, depending on the extent and nature of social linkages and networks between these populations. The same HIV-related stigma and inequity that are barriers to better-served key populations are more pronounced for those underserved communities that have less access to comprehensive services or limited health coverage. Examples of those groups include young people, women, migrants, displaced populations and the vulnerable.

Eligibility criteria

• Nonprofit status: Organization will be asked to provide documentation or any valid proof to verify its legal entity status.
• Must be established for at least two years upon the time of the grant application.
• Have a strong track record of sound financial stewardship and ability to deliver impactful programming.
• Have strong commitment to good corporate governance, compliance, and ethics.
• Demonstrate understanding of HIV and affected communities.
• Have a strong network, partnership capacity, and ability to collaborate effectively.

Grantees must be in at least one of the following territories: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Mainland China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.